CBU alarmed at alleged threats against journalists by police chief

BRIDGETOWN (CMC):

The Caribbean Broadcasting Union (CBU) has expressed shock at allegations that Trinidad and Tobago Police Commissioner Gary Griffith has made what journalists at the Trinidad Express consider to be threats against their safety and that of their families.

In a statement on Tuesday, the regional media body says it is unheard of that the head of the country’s police force could be the one allegedly causing people to fear for their safety.

“The twin-island republic has, between 2017 and now, dropped five places on the World Press Freedom Index, as measured by Reporters Without Borders, and it would be expected that all would be done to reverse that trend, but threats on journalists or against anyone in the media would have the opposite effect,” the statement said.

CALL FOR PROBE

The CBU is calling on the Police Services Commission and other law-enforcement bodies to investigate the reports and secure the assurance of the commissioner that media workers have no need to fear the police.

The union, which this year held its 50th Annual General Assembly, says it has several members in Trinidad and Tobago and they have, over the years been proud of their tradition of a free press.

“The CBU stands ready to help in any way it can to defuse tensions in this matter and restore normalcy in the journalistic and police relations,” the CBU said.